Union Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi on Saturday there was no reason to worry about Indian emigrants losing work following the financial crisis in Dubai.
Asserting that there was no panic situation regarding the Indian workers, Mr. G. Ravi told reporters after calling on Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi at the Secretariat, “We are not worried. My information from Indian associations, the Consulate and ambassador is that there is nothing to worry.” He added that “[for] one day, the Indian stock market made a show [as if] everything is over.”
He recalled that following the global economic meltdown, about one lakh Indian workers returned to the country last year and early this year. Many of them had gone back.
He pointed out that most of the emigrants in Dubai belonged to four States - Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Punjab.
To a query on instances of workers getting cheated at the hands of certain sections of travel and employment agents, Mr. Ravi said the government was contemplating formulating a law under which procedures for getting visas would be made more simple without having to go to agents.
Asked about the Chief Minister conveying apprehensions of fishermen to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the proposed legislation on regulation and management of marine fisheries, Mr. Ravi said this topic did not figure in the discussion. However, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam Ministers and Members of Parliament would be taken into confidence before the Bill is introduced.
On continued attacks on Tamil Nadu fishermen, the Minister said the Centre would again take up the matter with the Sri Lankan government.
About the meeting with Mr. Karunanidhi, the Union Minister said it was personal.
Keywords: Union Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs, Vayalar Ravi, Indian emigrants, stock market, economic meltdown, Chief Minister, M. Karunanidhi
